Wire feeding and measuring device.



PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

E. J. BOWERPIND. WIRE FEEDING AND MEASURING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1905.

1": NORf-IS PETERS co., wnsumamu, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FENCE 00., OF ADRIAN,

MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

WIRE FEEDING AND MEASURING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed September 9, 1905. Serial No. 277,764.

T0 60% whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. Bowma- FIND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVire Feeding and Measuring Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a wire feeding and measuring device; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of arts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointe out particu larly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for feeding the strand-wires into a wire fabric machine in such a manner as to maintain all of said Wires of a uniform len th, thereby preventing the buckling of the fencing or fabric when strung. The above object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the wheels around which the wire is passed, said wheel carrying the means for clamping or holding the wire against slipping, the shaft on which the wheel is mounted appearing in section. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation, showing the edges of a plurality of said wheels and illustrating the means for actuating the wire-clamping devices. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, as on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

This invention is expressly designed for use in connection with machines for making wire fencing, wherein the longitudinal or strand wires are fed into a machine in approximate parallel relation to have the crosswires attached thereto by means of tying staples or by weaving, according to the character of fencing being made. It is essential that said strand-wires be maintained at a uniform length, or, in other words, that they all be of the same longitudinal measurement. To accomplish said result, a rotary shaft 1 is journaled in the rear of the fence-machine, (not shown,) u on which are mounted measuring and fee ing wheels 2, there being as many of said wheels as there are longitudinal strands or bars in the fencing, and all of said wheels being of the same circumferential measurement. The Wheels are splined upon the shaft 1, so that they may be adjusted to vary the distance between the strand-wires and are looked after adjustment by means of the point of junction of the spoke with the rim is a longitudinally-movable rod 7. Any number of the rods 7 may be employed, according to the need, there being four of said rods in the machine illustrated in the draw ings accompanying this s ecification. These rods 7 are common to al of the wheels 2.and extend from end to end of the machine, the opposite ends of said rods carrying the antifrictionrollers 8 and 9, respectively. Secured to each of the rods 7 at the point of its passage through the s )OkGS of the wheels are the heads 10, adjustab e thereon and secured by the set-screws 11. Threaded in the outwardly-extending portion of each of said heads is a pin 12, having a rounded end squared for the application of a wrench and adapted to be locked by a j am-nut 13. These pins project inwardly transversely across the face of the wheels 2 and are adapted to impinge against the wire 5 to clamp said wire etween the opposed confining-pins 14, located in the periphery of the wheel on each side of the pins 12 when the rods 7 are moved longitudinally. The operation of the rods 7 is caused by a circular cam-track 15, located at one end of the machine, against which the antifriction-rollers 8 at the ends of said rods travel, said track having the depressed portion 16 therein, which permits each rod in its turn to move back sufficiently to release the wires at the point where they lead from the periphery of the Wheel to pay into the machine, said reverse movement of the rod being accomplished by the short cam-track 17, which engages the antifriction-rollers 9 at the opposite ends of said rods, the high point of which is located directly 0 posite the depression 16 in, the cam-trac 15. As the wires pay off from the wheels 2 at about the point they are caused to wind thereon from the bundles, (not shown,) the longitudinal movement of the rods 7 in successioncaused by the short cam-track 17 not only withtionary, and as the wheels 8 ride into and out of the depression 16 said rods 7 are reciprocated longitudinally for the purpose and in the manner before described.

While the heads 10 are adjustable upon the rods 7 by threading the crimping-pins12, provision is made for an independent adjustment of said pins, so that by loosening the nut 13 the pin may be quickly adjusted to increase or decrease the pressure against the wire and quickly locked by tightening said nut. also stationary, and its only function is to push the rods longitudinally in succession to release the strands of wire at the time the rollers 8 on said rods reach the depression 16 in said track 15.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wire feeding and measuring de vice, the combination with the rotary shaft, of the wheels mounted thereon, having guidepins upon their peripheries between which the wire strands are adapted to lie, longitu- The cam-track 17, like the track 15, is-

dinally-reciprocatory rods mounted in said wheels carrying engaging members adapted to impinge against the wires between said guide-pins, and means for reciprocating said rods longitudinally in succession.

2. In a wire feeding and measuring device, the combination with the rotary shaft, of the plurality of wheels adjustably mounted upon said shaft, said wheels having guidepins extending from their peripheries between which the wire strands are adapted to lie, longitudinally-reciprocatory rods mounted in said shafts carrying projecting members adapted to impinge against the wires between said pins as said rods are moved longitudinally, and cam-tracks at the ends of said rods for imparting a longitudinal reciprocation thereto in succession.

3. In a wire feeding and measuring device, the combination with the rotary shaft, a plurality of wheels upon said shaft having guide-pins on their peripheries between which the wire strands are adapted to lie, longitudinally-reci rocatory rods passing through said wheels, a lurality of adjustable heads u on each r0 ,a pin adjustable in each of said eads extending into the path of the wire and adapted to impinge thereagainst, antifriction-rollers at the ends of said rods, and the cam-tracks engaging said rollers for reciprocating the rods longitudinally.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. BOWERFIND.

Witnesses:

W. B. OoLviN, P. J. DUNN. 

